Healy says sorry for show of dissent

By Peter Deeley in Johannesburg

26 March 1997

IAN HEALY, Australia's vice-captain, has made a public apology
after being censured for showing dissent in the final Test
against South Africa.

Healy hurled his bat into the dressing-room at Pretoria after
being given out caught behind when it appeared the ball had come
off the pad. Match referee Raman Subba Row suspended him from
the first two of the coming one-day internationals for dissent,
resulting in a call-up for Adam Gilchrist.

Healy said he regretted losing his composure. ``I certainly do
not condone in any way my actions in throwing the bat.'' He was
also unhappy at allowing ``the many frustrations of the Test to
hit so hard''.

Subba Row will be submitting a report to the International
Cricket Council on umpiring in the series - won 2-1 by
Australia. While refusing to disclose its contents Subba Row
said he felt that it was time member countries got together to
establish a code of conduct on players' appealing.

Television replays have shown up an unusual number of umpiring
errors in this series but Subba Row said: ``It is now part of the
system and we must live with it.''